Water valve snap fit retention for a vacuum break

ABSTRACT

A vacuum break assembly including a housing, at least one valve assembly and at least one biased latch. The housing has at least one opening therein. The at least one valve assembly is coupled to the at least one opening in a sliding manner. The at least one biased latch couples the valve assembly to the housing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/615,870, entitled “WATER VALVE SNAP-FITRETENTION FOR VACUUM BREAK ASSEMBLY”, filed Oct. 5, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a water valve assembly, and, moreparticularly to a water valve assembly connected to a vacuum break.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vacuum breaks are utilized in water systems in order to prevent asiphoning action from occurring between a device utilizing water and thewater supply. For example, vacuum breaks are utilized in certain toiletflushing systems so that there is an opportunity for air to enterbetween the water source and the water being used by the device. Anotherapplication for vacuum breaks are in wash machines where the watersupply may be a mixture of hot and cold water that is then supplied to awashing tub with the vacuum break serving the dual function of mixingthe hot and cold water in a mixing chamber and providing a break betweenthe water supply and the water in the washing tub. Vacuum breaks forwashing machines allow for the introduction of atmospheric air in thewater flow so that a siphon is not created that would draw additionalwater from the source or allow contamination from a water path that maybe in contact with water in the tub and the valve. Contamination risk isgreatest if water pressure from the water source is lost and the valveis opened and if the valve is in contact with water from the wash tubcontamination of the source water would result. For this reason a vacuumbreak is utilized to prevent the possibility of a water sourcecontamination. Additionally the vacuum break may allow a mixing of thewater from the water sources prior to the water being utilized in thewashing tub.

Vacuum breaks have water valve assemblies associated therewith, whichmay be attached thereto. The water valve assemblies require the use ofnumerous tools and extensive assembly procedures in order to connect thevacuum break with water control valves.

What is needed in the art is an inexpensive, easily assembled valveassembly/vacuum break combination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vacuum break assembly with an easilyattached valve assembly.

The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a vacuum break assemblyincluding a housing, at least one valve assembly and at least one biasedlatch. The housing has at least one opening therein. The at least onevalve assembly is coupled to the at least one opening in a slidingmanner. The at least one biased latch couples the valve assembly to thehousing.

An advantage of the present invention is that the valve assembly isconnected to the vacuum break without the need of any tools.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it is coupled to thevacuum break assembly by simply pushing the assemblies together.

Another advantage of the present invention is that a retaining featureadditionally serves to orient and direct the valve assembly to anopening in the vacuum break.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the valveassembly can be removed from the vacuum break by providing a biasingforce against a spring arm to thereby release the valve assembly fromthe vacuum break.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vacuum break assemblyhaving solenoid valves of the present invention installed therein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing of a solenoid valve of FIG. 1 installedin the housing of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates retention features of the housing of the vacuum breakof FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates the assembly of the solenoid valve assembly of FIGS.1 and 2 to the housing of FIGS. 1-3; and

FIG. 5 illustrates the vacuum break assembly of FIGS. 1-4 installed in awashing machine.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplification set out hereinillustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, andsuch exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-5, thereis illustrated a washing machine 10 including a vacuum break assembly12. Vacuum break assembly 12 includes a housing 14, a temperature sensor16, a valve assembly 18 and a valve assembly 20. Temperature sensor 16is adjacent to a mixing cavity in which water from both the hot and coldsupply are mixed and the temperature is controlled by a control device,not shown. Valve assemblies 18 and 20 are respectively assigned to coldand hot water supplies that are coupled in a conventional manner by wayof a hose to hot and cold water supplies. Valve assemblies 18 and 20 aresubstantially similar and for all practical purposes are identical inevery respect. For the sake of convenience only valve assembly 18 willbe discussed, with the understanding that the attributes of valveassembly 18 are also included in valve assembly 20.

Valve assembly 18 includes a solenoid 22 for operative activation by acontrol system, not shown. Although solenoid 22 is depicted, it isunderstood that a control mechanism other than a solenoid may beutilized in operating valve assembly 18. Valve assembly 18 additionallyincludes a sealing ring 24, which co-acts with a surface of an opening26 in housing 14 to provide a waterproof seal for the water that travelsthrough valve assembly 18. Hot and cold water is mixed in a mixingchamber contained in vacuum break assembly 12, the chamber existsbetween valve assemblies 18 and 20. A control system variously activatesvalve assemblies 18 and 20 to control the temperature of water thattravels through the mixing chamber of vacuum break 12.

Housing 14 additionally includes features on each side that arereplicated to accommodate each of valve assemblies 18 and 20. Again forthe sake of convenience, only those attributes on one side of housing 14will be discussed. It is to be understood that the features discussed asexisting on one side of housing 14 to accommodate valve assembly 18 areexistent in a substantially similar fashion on an opposite side ofhousing 14 to accommodate valve assembly 20. Housing 14 includes aspring arm 28 having a retaining feature 30, and dual spring arms 32having an over-center slot 34. Spring arm 28, also known as a biasedlatch 28, is flexible in a direction 36 allowing retainer 30 to engage anotch or ledge on valve assembly 18. Dual spring arms 32 are flexible indirections 38. Direction 36 is substantially perpendicular to direction38. Dual spring arms 32 additionally guide valve assembly 18 and orientit so that a portion of valve assembly 18 is directed toward opening 26.

Valve assembly 18 includes a body 40, a ramped surface 42 and a channel44. Ramped surface 42 interacts with spring arm 28 so that as valveassembly 18 is assembled to housing 14 spring arm 28 flexes away frombody 40 as it travels along ramped surface 42. As retainer 30 moves pastramped surface 42, spring arm 28 returns to its substantially unbiasedposition, thereby holding valve assembly 18 in an assembled positionwith housing 14.

In the assembly process of vacuum break 12, channel 44 of valve assembly18 is oriented relative to dual spring arms 32 and is moved towardhousing 14 causing dual spring arms 32 to flex outwardly allowing acurved inner surface between channel 44, which is substantially similarto a curved portion of over-center slot 34. Channel 44 co-acts with dualspring arms 32 to orient and direct valve assembly 18 toward opening 26and ramped surface 42 to contact retainer 30 of spring arm 28.

Once valve assembly 18 is snapped into place with housing 14, it shouldbe noted that the portion of body 40 that has entered opening 26 alongwith dual spring arms 32 securely hold valve assembly 18 so that valveassembly 18 will not rotate or move relative to housing 14 when a hosecoupling is connected to the threaded portion of body 40. Further, theassembly of valve assembly 18 with housing 14 is accomplished withoutthe need for any tools. This hand operation is accomplished very quicklyand can be undone by simply applying a biasing force on spring arm 28 toallow retainer 30 to be disengaged from body 40. Valve assembly 18 canthen be pulled from its position relative to housing 14.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design,the present invention can be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fallwithin the limits of the appended claims.

1. A vacuum break assembly, comprising: a housing having at least oneopening; at least one valve assembly coupled to said at least oneopening in a sliding manner; at least one biased latch coupling saidvalve assembly to said housing; and at least one set of dual spring armsattached to said housing, said at least one valve assembly including achannel that interacts with said dual spring arms to orient said valveassembly to said housing, said dual spring arms being configured to flexin opposite directions while said dual spring arms are in said channelas said at least one valve assembly is assembled to said housing.
 2. Thevacuum break assembly of claim 1, wherein said dual spring arms flex ina direction and said biased latch flexes in an other direction that issubstantially normal to said direction.
 3. The vacuum break assembly ofclaim 1, wherein said at least one valve assembly includes a rampedsurface that causes said biased latch to flex outwardly from said atleast one valve assembly during the assembly of said at least one valveassembly to said housing.
 4. The vacuum break assembly of claim 1,wherein said at least one valve assembly is coupled to said housingwithout the use of any tools.
 5. The vacuum assembly of claim 1, whereinsaid set of dual spring arms are respectively configured to flex infirst and second directions, said biased latch being configured to flexin a third direction, said first direction, said second direction, andsaid third direction each being different.
 6. The vacuum assembly ofclaim 5, wherein said first direction and said second direction aresubstantially coplanar, said third direction being substantially normalto said first direction and said second direction.
 7. A washing machine,comprising: an enclosure; and a vacuum break assembly attached to saidenclosure, said vacuum break including: a housing having at least oneopening; at least one valve assembly coupled to said opening in asliding manner; at least one biased latch coupling said valve assemblyto said housing; and at least one set of dual spring arms attached tosaid housing, said at least one valve assembly including a channel thatinteracts with said dual spring arms to orient said valve assembly tosaid housing, said dual spring arms being configured to flex in oppositedirections while said dual spring arms are in said channel as said atleast one valve assembly is assembled to said housing.
 8. The washingmachine of claim 7, wherein said dual spring arms flex in a directionand said biased latch flexes in an other direction that is substantiallynormal to said direction.
 9. The washing machine of claim 7, whereinsaid at least one valve assembly includes a ramped surface that causessaid biased latch to flex outwardly from said at least one valveassembly during the assembly of said at least one valve assembly to saidhousing.
 10. The washing machine of claim 7, wherein said at least onevalve assembly is coupled to said housing without the use of any tools.11. The washing machine of claim 7, wherein said set of dual spring armsare respectively configured to flex in first and second directions, saidbiased latch being configured to flex in a third direction, said firstdirection, said second direction, and said third direction each beingdifferent.
 12. The washing machine of claim 11, wherein said firstdirection and said second direction are substantially coplanar, saidthird direction being substantially normal to said first direction andsaid second direction.